Hypodermic-needle receptacle



sept. 14 1926. 1,599,881

l... EISELE HYPODERMIC NEEDLE REGEPTACLE Ffild Slept..15, 1925 v 1Nv NToR -Loaf/Af 5,615

Patented Sept. 14, 1926. l l

LOGAN EISELE, F NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

HYPODERMC-NEEDLE RECEPTACLE.

Application filed September manner such that the solution will have access lto every part of theV needle.

Needles of the character in question obviously should be as nearly sterile as is possible and while thorough sterilization prior to and after use presents diiiiculties, because of the restricted nature of the needle bore, the retention of the needle` in a sterile condition presents greater di'liiculties.

Since the usefulness of the needle is liable to impairment through obstruction of the bore by accretions, such as rust, undissolved medicaments and the like, it is usual to insert after using through the bore a line wire or stylet, which is left in place until there is occasion for further use of thev needle.

It has been proposed to place the needle in a sterilizing solution when not in use, and in order to facilitate insertion and re moval, the needle is usually connected to the stopper or closure of the receptacle, in such manner that removal of the .stopper will also remove the needle.

A convenient method of supporting the needle, is by providing the stopper with a reduced neck, which will enter the nipple or socket of the needle, thus supporting the needle in the sterilizing solution, and facill itating its removal, since the neck provides a rcleasable connection.

If however the n-eck fills the nipple, it closes one end of the bore, thus preventing free access of the sterilizing liquid to the needle bore, and also makes the use of a wire or stylet inconvenient, since it is usual to provide the stylet with a loop, eye or the like, outside of the nipple to facilitate the removal thereof.

A primary object of the present invent-ion is the provision of a receptacle wherein the stopper has a reduced neck to enter the needle nipple, thereby to support the same in the solution, and facilitate withdrawal, but of a character such that the needle bore is not blocked, nor the use of a stylet made impracticable.

Vith this and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts fully described hereinafter, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, ,and pointed out in the claims 15, 1925. Serial No. 55,461.

appended hereto, it heilig understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims, may be resortedV to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming a part hereof:

Fig. l is a plan view of the r-ecepta le embodying the invention, and designed "or two needles, a part being in section.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of a needle andan engaged stopper.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the needle dis-engaged from the stopper.

Fig. i is a perspective view of an alternate form of stopper.

In the present embodiment of the invention, thereceptacle is a tubular body l of glass or the like, which if intended to support two needles, will be open at both ends, each end having the usual neck 2.

The receptacle has its ends closed by stoppers 8, which are preferably of resilient material, as for instance rubber or the'like, and the Stoppers are of ,suitable length, and of a diameter to fit the necks 2 closely, so that there is no liability to accidental dislodgement.

The sterilizing liquid is arranged in the body l of the receptacle, and is held in place by the Stoppers. VVh-en it is desired to move or insert a needle, the receptacle is turned with its axis vertical, to bring the stopper desired upward, when it may be remov-ed without leakage of the liquid.

The needles are of usual construction, including a nipple or socket 4 and a needle proper or canula 5, and in the present instance, the needle is of the slip joint ty e. That 'is the nipple or socket is not internally threaded. i l

The stopper has a reduced extension 6' at its inner end, which is the segment of a cylinder, being in cross section slightly more than a half circle. The segment is of a size to fit snugly somewhat more than half of the socket bore, and the axis of the segment is that of the stopper.

The extension tapers slightly toward its free end, and the diameter of the said free end is approximately that of the socket bore, so that as the extension is pushed into the socket, the fit becomes tighter, and too tight eventually to permit the insertion of the full length of the extension into the socket without some difficulty. From this results that when the extension is engaged with the socket with sufficient firmness to support the needle, the end of the needle socket will be spaced away from the adjacent end oft the stopper slightly.

The arrangement thus provides for the free entrance of the sterilizing solution between the inner end of the stopper and the socket end, and between the extension and the socket wall. Thus the sterilizing liquid has .tree access to every part of the needle including the bore. Furthermore if it is desired to use a wire or stylet having the usual eye, this may be done, the wire or stylet lying in the space between the plain tace of the extension and the socket wall.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3 it will be noticed that the relative dimensions of the eX- tension and the socket or nipple bore are such that the extension is tight in the bore before the free end thereo't' obstructs the socket, and before the inner end of the stopper obstructs the outer end ot the same. Thus a free circulation o't the sterilizing liquid through the needle is provided tor. Preferably the socket is slightly flattened externally to provide a longitudinally eX- tending plane surface upon which the needle may rest without rolling.

In the embodiment shown in Fie'. et, the stopper 8 is of resilient material, and the extension which isl a holder for engaging within the socket of' the needle, is of relatively hard material, as for instance metal, wood, or `any other suitable material. The holder or plug is connected to the stopper in any suitable'manner, as Afor instance. by a spur 10, pushed into the` material of the stopper. In both constructions the extension or plug 6 or 9 as the case may be is of a cross section different from that of the socket bore, and ot such size that when in place the stopper will be spaced slightly from the needle. and a. longitudinal passage will be provided between the extension or plug and the needle.

l claim:

l. A stopper for sterilizing receptacles `for hypodermic needles, of resilient material, and provided with an extension of a cross section different from the cross section of the socket bore of the needle to provide a passage longitudinally ot the extension when in place in the socket, and of cross sectional size and length to space the inner ends of the extension and socket, and the outer end of the socket and stopper when the extension is in place in the socket thereby to permit tree circulation ot the sterilizing liquid through the needle bore.

2. A hypodermic needle receptacle including a tube adapted to containa sterilizing liquid, a stopper for the end ot the tube, said stopper having a reduced extension of a cross section other than that of the needle socket and tapering from the stopper, the extension at its larger end ot a cross section greater than that of the socket thereby to space the socket from the stopper and to provide 't'or tree, circula-tion of the sterilizing liquid through the needle.

3. A hypodermic needle receptacle including a tube adapted to contain a sterilizing liquid, and provided at each end with a neck,

a stopper ot' resilient material for 'each neck,

each stopper provided with a reduced tapering extension to enter the socket or nipple oic the needle to support the same in the sterilizing liquid, the extension flattened. longitudinally to provide a passage, and oi a cross section and length to space the inner end of the extension from the inner end of the socket, and the outer Vend of the socket from the stopper, when the extension is in place.

l. A stopper of resilient material for sterilizing receptacles for hypodermic needles having .in connection therewith a holder for a hypodermic needle to engage within the socket thereof, said holder ot cross sectional shape and length to space the adjacent ends ot the stopper and socket, and to provide a passage longitudinally ot the holder when in place in the socket thereby to permit tree circulation ot' the sterilizing liquid through the needle bore.

Signed at Nashville, in the county of Davidsonand State of Tennessee, this 29th day oit August, A. D. 1925.

LOGAN EISELE. 

